We’re here to put you off.
There are a bunch of challenges when it comes to van life. Like you, probably, we saw a few youtube videos of youtubers entitled “the reality of van life” and “what they don’t want you to know about vanlife”.
In our arrogance, we thought, sure that’s happening to them but I’m sure we’ll do it better, or we won’t put ourselves in that situation.
Our new reality, what we now know, is, you have to really work at living in a van. Honestly, it’s like a full time job, that costs more money and time than you would expect it to.
And whilst the peaks are high, the challenges are real. If you think you might be sensitive to any of these points down below, put some real thought into what a campervan experience might mean to you, and if you really still want it.
Finance
Maintenance and upkeep: Living in a van also requires a certain level of maintenance and upkeep, such as fixing leaks, replacing batteries, and monitoring water levels.
Cost: Living in a van can be expensive, especially if you need to make modifications to the van or if you have to pay for overnight parking.
Balancing work and travel: you’ll need to find a balance between travelling and working, especially if you need to make a living on the road. This can be challenging if you have a demanding job or schedule.
On the road
Privacy and comfort: Privacy can be difficult to come by, and sleeping arrangements can be uncomfortable, especially if there’s a lack of a proper bed or mattress. Living in a van means you’re often in public places, and privacy can be hard to come by. This can be especially challenging for those who are used to having their own space.
Weather and elements: Living in a van means being exposed to the elements and inclement weather, which can make life difficult. Living in a van means you’re exposed to the elements, and inclement weather can make life difficult. This can be especially challenging in cold or wet climates.
Lack of amenities: Van life often means giving up the comforts of home, such as a full kitchen, comfortable bed, and private bathroom.
Accessing wifi and power (particularly in stormy weather): like data, signal, Wi-Fi and electricity can be challenging. And you need it.
Contant checks, maintenance and repairs: Living in a van means that you’ll need to be able to perform basic maintenance and repairs on your vehicle. Living in a van requires a certain level of maintenance and upkeep, including fixing leaks, replacing batteries, and monitoring water levels.
Limited space: Living in a van means living in a small, confined space. This can be difficult for some people, especially if they’re used to having more room.
Parking issues: It can sometimes be really hard to find a place to park up, either for the day or for an overnight. Places are full, your van doesn’t fit under the height restriction, there are prohibited signs up everyone. It becomes pretty stressful pretty quickly when it’s dark and you’re driving around aimlessly looking for somewhere – nay, anywhere – to park
Safety and security: Safety and security can be a concern when living in a van, especially when parked in remote or unfamiliar locations. This includes finding somewhere you aren’t going to get moved on or disturbed, as well as feeling comfortable leaving the van and it not getting broken into.
Difficulty finding toilets and showers: This can be a biggie.
Lack of personal space: If you’re travelling with someone, then you’re always with that person. And when you get into routines it can be hard to find time for yourself, especially when you both want to do whatever the best thing in front of you is. It’s easy to fall into a trap where in theory you have all of the time in the world but in reality none of it is just for you.
Decision fatigue: Urgh, the biggest, most annoying thing about travelling in a van is the constant number of decisions you have to make. Where to go next, whats the best way to get there, what shall we do when we’re there? Wheres the best place to get a coffee or to eat dinner. Shall we go to the Aldi on the way there?
FOMO: You can only be in one place and dealing with the fear of missing out is real. It’s really amplified in a van when you consciously have to make a decision on where you are.
Constant chores: When you have a van you are in charge of all the vans inputs and outputs. That means you need to constantly make sure you have sunlight, you have a water source, you have a place to empty your grey waste and toilet. The trade off of an outdoor lifestyle is that so much sand and dirt is always blown in with the wind. Every bit of dirt you bring in with you, takes up much more space in a van than in a house, so be prepared to clean a lot. You’re always sweeping. Your bin is small so you’re always emptying it. You get the picture.
Limited storage: Storage space is limited in a van, and you’ll need to be creative in finding ways to store all your belongings. This can be especially challenging if you like to travel with a lot of gear.
Navigating road/ local laws: It’s important to be aware of these laws and to obey them to avoid getting into trouble. In Bosnia we got fined for not having our lights on, in broad daylight. Depending on where you are, there may be restrictions on where you can park and sleep in your van. As an example, Albania is very camper friendly, Croatia is not. You can park most places in the former and if you do the same in the latter you will get a fine.
Limited access to laundry facilities: Doing laundry is a real pain, this is what happens. You save up laundry because often it’s expensive in campsites, so you want to get a full load in. Plus you don’t want to be at campsites.
What ends up happening is you have two or three full loads (with towels and bedding and stuff) when you get the only campsite with a €2 washing machine for 100 miles. But, everyone else has all their washing so you need to wait, or get up super early.
Then load after load goes in and you realise the washing machines are shite and not really cleaning your stuff, and you don’t have enough space to hang the washing up because the campsite pitches are either in shade or don’t have anywhere to place your lines.
And the spin setting doesn’t work. And then it starts to get dark because you’ve didn’t get the wash on until midday and you end up needing to take all your clothes inside the van overnight where everything gets damp.
And you spend the next day trying to dry everything out. You think this is such crap I’m not doing this again for ages, and so the cycle continues.
Mechanical issue and dealing with breakdowns: Living in a van means you’re relying on your vehicle to be your home, and breakdowns can be a major inconvenience. Breakdowns can be a major inconvenience when living in a van, especially if you’re in a remote area.
Dealing with waste: When living in a van, you’ll need to find ways to manage your waste, whether it’s food waste, grey water, or human waste.
Health
Maintaining a healthy lifestyle: It can be challenging to maintain a healthy lifestyle while living in a van, as access to nutritious food, exercise equipment, and healthcare can be limited.
Social interaction: Van life can be isolating, and it can be difficult to find opportunities for social interaction. Living in a van can sometimes lead to feelings of loneliness and social isolation, especially if you’re travelling solo.
Lack of stability: No permanent address and the need to constantly move to new locations
Inconvenient sleeping arrangements: Sleeping in a van can be uncomfortable, especially if you don’t have a good bed or mattress. You may also find it difficult to find a safe and quiet place to park for the night.
Miscellaneous
Other people: Lots of people don’t like van lifers, it’s a fact. You’ll get stares and get told on. The consensus is either that there are a few that ruin it all for the many, by leaving litter/ being disrespectful, or, an undertone of jealousy that you might be out of the rat race.
Environmental Impact: Living in a van may have an impact on the environment, particularly in regards to waste management and resource conservation. Plus diesel, which is a pretty bad necessity.
Still keen? Brilliant. Let’s crack on.
[If you like, you can check out a bonus article and our rapid round thoughts on these challenges. Otherwise, your best next step is to look at the great things van life can afford you.]